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Stable sensors with tunable sensitivities based on class II xerogels
Zunyu Tao1, Elizabeth C Tehan, Ying Tang
1Department of Chemistry, Natural Sciences Complex, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14260-3000, USA.
Analytical Chemistry
|March 16, 2006
Summary
We developed novel oxygen (O2) sensors using ruthenium complexes in organically modified silicates. These O2 sensors show stable, tunable responses for over two years, enabling diverse sensor arrays.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Sensors
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Organically modified silicates (OMS) offer tunable properties for sensor applications.
- Ruthenium(II) complexes are known for their luminescence and responsiveness to oxygen.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize O2-responsive sensor arrays and films using ruthenium complexes within OMS.
- To investigate the factors influencing sensor sensitivity and stability for both gaseous and dissolved O2 detection.
Main Methods:
- Synthesizing class II OMS using tetramethoxysilane/tetraethoxysilane and varying monoalkylsiloxanes.
- Sequestering tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)ruthenium(II) within the OMS matrices.
- Evaluating sensor performance, including response linearity, stability, and sensitivity to O2.
Main Results:
- The O2 sensors exhibited a linear response (r2 > 0.99) to both gaseous and dissolved O2.
- Sensor responses remained stable for over two years.
- Sensitivity was continuously tunable by adjusting the alkyl chain length (n) in the monoalkylsiloxanes.
- Sensor sensitivity correlated with O2 diffusion and solubility coefficients, as well as xerogel polarity.
- Feature size of pin-printed sensor elements showed a linear dependence on pin velocity.
Conclusions:
- A new strategy for creating xerogel-based sensor arrays with diversified elements for O2 detection has been demonstrated.
- The tunable nature of OMS allows for the fine-tuning of sensor sensitivity and performance.
- These findings pave the way for advanced O2 sensing applications.
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